Suction nozzle for a hard surface cleaning apparatus and hard surface cleaning apparatus having such a suction nozzle

ABSTRACT

A suction nozzle for a portable hard surface cleaning apparatus includes a suction nozzle housing having a first and a second housing half-shell which between them form a suction duct which extends from a suction opening to a suction duct end section to which a source of vacuum can be connected for creating a suction flow. Arranged at the suction opening is a replaceable squeegee lip, and the two housing half-shells each have at least one holding element adjacent to the suction opening, and a holding section of the replaceable squeegee lip is arranged between the holding elements of the two housing half-shells. In order to improve the suction nozzle in such a manner that it is reliably held at the suction opening, the holding elements in each case form an engagement with the holding section.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of International Application NumberPCT/EP2015/080887 filed on Dec. 21, 2015, which is incorporated hereinby reference in its entirety and for all purposes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to suction nozzle for a portable hard surfacecleaning apparatus for drawing off and suctioning off liquid from a hardsurface, in particular from a window pane, comprising a suction nozzlehousing having a first and a second housing half-shell which betweenthem form a suction duct, wherein the suction duct extends from asuction opening at which a replaceable squeegee lip is held in place, toa suction duct end section to which a source of vacuum is connectablefor creating a suction flow and wherein the two housing half-shells eachhave at least one holding element adjacent to the suction opening and aholding section of the replaceable squeegee lip is arranged between theholding elements of the two housing half-shells for holding thereplaceable squeegee lip in place at the suction opening.

Furthermore, the invention relates to a portable hard surface cleaningapparatus having such a suction nozzle.

WO 2015/007328 A1 discloses a portable hard surface cleaning apparatuswith the aid of which a hard surface, in particular a window pane, canbe cleaned. The portable hard surface cleaning apparatus comprises asuction nozzle having a squeegee lip which can be moved along the hardsurface in the manner of a manual window squeegee so that liquid can bedrawn off the hard surface. The liquid collects at a suction opening ofthe suction nozzle and can be sucked up from the suction opening via asuction duct and transferred to a dirty-liquid tank. To this end, theportable hard surface cleaning apparatus comprises a suction unit whichis in flow communication with the suction duct. By way of the suctionunit, a suction flow can be created in the area of the suction openingunder whose action a mixture of liquid and air is sucked in via thesuction opening.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,184,372 discloses a suction nozzle comprising twohousing half-shells which form between them a suction duct that extendsfrom the suction opening to a suction duct end section which can beconnected to a vacuum source. A replaceable squeegee lip is held inplace at the suction opening. One of the two housing half-shells hasformed thereon a holding element in the form of a groove which receivesa projection of the replaceable squeegee lip, provided on one sidethereof, and the other one of the housing half-shells has a plurality ofsupporting elements arranged in spaced-apart relationship to one anotherin the area of the suction duct, which supporting elements providesupport to the replaceable squeegee lip.

It is an object of the present invention to improve a suction nozzle ofthe kind mentioned at the outset in such a manner that the replaceablesqueegee lip is more reliably held in place at the suction opening.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the invention, this object is accomplished in asuction nozzle of the generic type by the holding elements of thehousing half-shells in each case forming an engagement with the holdingsection of the replaceable squeegee lip.

In the suction nozzle constructed in accordance with the invention, theholding section of the replaceable squeegee lip is in engagement bothwith the at least one holding element of the first housing half-shelland with the at least one holding element of the second housinghalf-shell. The replaceable squeegee lip is thereby reliably held inplace at the suction opening by way of the two housing half-shellsforming the suction duct. The two housing half-shells form between themthe suction duct, and no additional component part is needed for holdingthe squeegee lip in place. During assembly of the suction nozzle, thetwo housing half-shells can be connected together, in particular screwedtogether, with the replaceable squeegee lip interposed therebetween,wherein the holding elements of both of the housing half-shells in eachcase form an engagement with the holding section of the replaceablesqueegee lip.

It is advantageous for the holding section of the replaceable squeegeelip to be positionable between the at least one holding element of thefirst housing half-shell and the at least one holding element of thesecond housing half-shell both in a first position of use of thereplaceable squeegee lip and in a second position of use of the squeegeelip turned through 180° about a center axis of the squeegee lip, whereinthe center axis of the replaceable squeegee lip is oriented parallel tothe longitudinal axis of the suction duct. This provides the possibilityof turning the squeegee lip and thereby extending the life of thesqueegee lip. The squeegee lip can initially assume a first position ofuse in which it is moved along the hard surface to be cleaned. In thefirst position of use of the squeegee lip, the holding section thereofis positioned between the holding elements of the two housinghalf-shells and is in engagement with the holding elements of the twohousing half-shells. When in the first position of use, the replaceablesqueegee lip can contact the hard surface with a first contact areathereof. Said area can be subjected to wear during cleaning the hardsurface, and once a maximum amount of wear is incurred, the achievablecleaning effect is adversely affected. When this amount of wear isreached, the replaceable squeegee lip can be turned through 180° aroundthe center axis thereof oriented parallel to the longitudinal axis ofthe suction duct, in order to assume a second position of use. In thesecond position of use, the holding section also assumes a positionbetween the holding elements of the two housing half-shells and is inengagement with the holding elements of the two housing half-shells.When in the second position of use, the squeegee lip can also be movedalong the hard surface that is to be cleaned, wherein it contacts thehard surface with a second contact area thereof which has not yet beenworn. In both the first position of use and the second position of use,it is ensured by way of the holding elements arranged on the two housinghalf-shells that the squeegee lip is held reliably in place at thesuction opening and that a very good cleaning effect can be achieved byway of the squeegee lip in both positions of use.

It is advantageous for the replaceable squeegee lip to have asymmetrical configuration with respect to the center plane thereof,wherein the center plane is oriented parallel to the longitudinal axisof the suction duct.

For changing the position of use, it is advantageous for the replaceablesqueegee lip to be pulled out of the suction nozzle housing in adirection transverse to the longitudinal axis of the suction duct, thenturned through 180° about its center axis and then pulled back into thesuction nozzle housing in a direction transverse to the longitudinalaxis of the suction duct.

Preferably, the position of use of the replaceable squeegee lip can bechanged without tools. With such a configuration, the user can grasp thesqueegee lip with his or her hand by the squeegee lip's front portionprojecting from the suction nozzle housing and pull it sideways,transversely to the longitudinal axis of the suction duct, out of thesuction nozzle housing and, after flipping the squeegee lip, back intothe suction nozzle housing. In doing so, the holding elements of the twohousing half-shells can form a guide for the holding section of thereplaceable squeegee lip.

It is preferred for the two housing half-shells to be releasablyconnected to one another. For example, provision may be made for the twohousing half-shells to be screwable to one another or to be releasablylatchable to one another.

The holding elements of the housing half-shells form an engagement,preferably a form-locking connection, with the holding section of thereplaceable squeegee lip both in the first position of use and in thesecond position of use of the replaceable squeegee lip.

The holding section of the replaceable squeegee lip preferably has twodepressions which have a symmetrical configuration with respect to thecenter plane of the squeegee lip, in which depressions complementarilyconfigured projections of the holding elements of the first and secondhalf-shells engage both in the first position of use and in the secondposition of use of the squeegee lip.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the holding section ofthe replaceable squeegee lip is configured as an enlargement having asymmetrical configuration with respect to the center plane of thereplaceable squeegee lip and the holding elements of the two housinghalf-shells have depressions in which the enlargement engages.

For example, provision may be made for the enlargement of the holdingsection to be configured in the form of a straight-line bead and for theholding elements of the two housing half-shells each to have adepression into which the bead extends.

By way of example, the bead can have a circular cross-sectional area andthe holding sections of the two housing half-shells can accommodate, intheir depressions, about one half of the cross-section of the bead ineach case.

It is advantageous for at least one holding element of the first housinghalf-shell to be arranged in the area of the suction duct and form aflow guide element. The at least one holding element which is arrangedin the area of the suction duct can provide support to and fixing inplace of the replaceable squeegee lip in the area of the suction ductand at the same time act to guide the suction flow.

Preferably, the at least one holding element arranged in the area of thesuction duct forms a flow guide rib. The flow guide rib can predeterminea direction of flow for the suction flow in the area of the suctionopening so that a mixture of liquid and suction air can flow into thesuction duct in a predetermined direction. Flow losses can thereby bekept low and this in turn has the advantage that the energy consumptionof the vacuum source can be kept low.

Preferably, a plurality of flow guide ribs in spaced-apart relation toone another are arranged in the area of the suction duct.

It is particularly advantageous for the flow guide ribs to be arrangedin a fan-like manner. As seen relative to the centrally locatedlongitudinal axis of the suction duct, the flow guide ribs can have anincreasing inclination to the longitudinal axis with increasing distancefrom the longitudinal axis.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the flow guide ribs arearranged at the same height relative to the longitudinal axis of thesuction duct.

In order to keep the resistance to flow of the flow guide ribs low, itis advantageous for the flow guide ribs to taper against the directionof flow of the suction flow.

It is advantageous for the flow guide ribs to in each case have, attheir upper edge facing away from the first housing half-shell, adepression into which the holding section of the replaceable squeegeelip extends.

As seen in the direction of flow of the suction flow, the depressionsare preferably arranged in a rear end region of the upper edge and, in asection upstream of the depressions, the upper edges of the flow guideribs preferably form a planar contact face for the replaceable squeegeelip. In an advantageous embodiment, the contact face is inclined towardsa bottom wall of the suction duct.

It is advantageous for the flow guide ribs to be of wedge-shapedconfiguration in cross-section. In a lengthwise section, they can havean increasing height relative to the bottom wall of the suction duct, asseen in the direction of flow of the suction flow.

Preferably, the replaceable squeegee lip makes contact with the flowguide ribs over at least one half of its extension, relative to thedirection of flow of the suction flow.

In addition to the at least one holding element that is arranged insideof the suction duct, the first housing half-shell in a preferredembodiment has at least one further holding element that is arrangedoutside of the suction duct.

In particular, provision may be made for the first housing half-shell tohave two further holding elements which are arranged outside of thesuction duct in symmetrical relation with each other, relative to thelongitudinal axis of the suction duct. The two holding elements arrangedoutside of the suction duct can in each case extend from one side wallof the suction duct to an edge of the housing half-shell.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the second housinghalf-shell has a holding element which extends along the entire holdingsection of the replaceable squeegee lip and thus forms an engagementwith the holding section along the entire holding section.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the suctionnozzle has, in addition to a replaceable squeegee lip, a non-replaceablesqueegee lip which is integrally formed on the first housing half-shell.The non-replaceable squeegee lip can provide support to the replaceablesqueegee lip. In cleaning a hard surface, the liquid existing on thehard surface is drawn off by way of the replaceable squeegee lip,thereby subjecting the replaceable squeegee lip to wear, in particularif the hard surface is rough. The non-replaceable squeegee lip, on theother hand, is subjected to only minor, if any, wear and this haspractically no effect on the cleaning effect that can be achieved.

It is advantageous for the non-replaceable squeegee lip together withthe first housing half-shell to form an injection-molded part comprisinga hard component and an elastomer component. The hard component can formthe wall of the first housing half-shell, and the elastomer componentcan form the non-replaceable squeegee lip which, because of theelastomer material used for it, is of flexible, namely flexurallyflexible, configuration in a manner corresponding to that of thereplaceable squeegee lip.

By way of example, a polypropylene material or an ABS(acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene) material may be used as the hardcomponent, particularly a talc-reinforced polypropylene material.

By way of example, a thermoplastic elastomer material may be used as theelastomer component.

The elastomer component forms the non-replaceable squeegee lip. In anadvantageous embodiment of the invention, the at least one holdingelement which is arranged in the area of the suction duct is at leastpartially surrounded by the elastomer component in a circumferentialdirection.

Preferably, one of the two housing half-shells has a latch element inthe area of the suction duct end section, which latch element forms anelastically deformable wall section of the suction duct and isovermolded by an elastomer component. When the suction duct end sectionis connected to the vacuum source, the latch element of the housinghalf-shell together with a complementarily configured latch element ofthe vacuum source can form a latched connection. This ensures that thesuction nozzle does not unintentionally become detached from the vacuumsource. The latch element of the housing half-shell is arranged in thearea of the suction duct end section and forms an elastically deformablewall section of the suction duct. In order to prevent allowing suctionair to escape from the suction duct in the area of the latch element,the latch element is overmolded by an elastomer component. The elastomercomponent thus forms a seal element and ensures that the latch elementcan deform elastically for forming a latched connection.

The latch element advantageously forms a latch hook which has a springtongue and a latch projection projecting outwards from the springtongue. The spring tongue forms an elastically deformable wall sectionof the suction duct and is overmolded by the elastomer component.

The spring tongue is preferably configured in the manner of a leafspring, one end of which is connected in one piece to the wall of thehousing half-shell and the other end of which carries the outwardlyprotruding latch projection. The spring tongue is overmolded by theelastomer component except for the end thereof that is connected to thewall of the housing half-shell in one piece therewith.

For example, provision may be made for a housing half-shell of thesuction nozzle to form an injection-molded part comprising a hardcomponent and an elastomer component, wherein an elastically deformablewall section of the suction duct is formed by the hard component in theform of a spring tongue which, except for an end region thereof, issurrounded by a through-slot extending through the hard component,wherein the through-slot of the hard component is covered by theelastomer component integrally formed on the hard component. The springtongue is connected in one piece to the hard component at one end only,but is otherwise separated from the hard component by way of thethrough-slot. This lends elastic deformation capability to the springtongue. In order to prevent allowing liquid and suction air to escapefrom the suction duct via the through-slot, the spring tongue isovermolded by the elastomer component, which seals the through-slot. Theelastomer component ensures that the spring tongue can flex relative tothe hard component of the housing half-shell, whereby the elastomercomponent is also subjected to flexural loading but without adverselyaffecting the tightness of the suction duct.

As mentioned at the outset, the invention relates not only to a suctionnozzle of the kind described in the foregoing but also to a hard surfacecleaning apparatus for drawing off and suctioning off liquid from a hardsurface having such a suction nozzle. The portable hard surface cleaningapparatus has a suction unit for creating a suction flow so that amixture of liquid and air can be sucked off the hard surface beingcleaned. Furthermore, the portable hard surface cleaning apparatusconstructed in accordance with the invention has a dirty-liquid tank inwhich the suctioned liquid can be deposited. The portable hard surfacecleaning apparatus constructed in accordance with the invention has aseparating device for separating the liquid from the suctionedliquid/air mixture.

The separating device is preferably arranged in a separating chamberwhich is positioned in the flow path between the suction nozzle and thesuction unit, and the separated liquid can be transferred from theseparating chamber to the dirty-liquid tank. Thus, advantageously, theseparating chamber and the dirt-liquid tank are structurally separatefrom each other.

Preferably, the portable hard surface cleaning apparatus has a suctionduct receiving socket which is pluggably connectable to the suction ductend section of the suction nozzle and which has a latch receptacle forreceiving a latch projection of the suction nozzle. As has already beenmentioned, it is advantageous for the suction nozzle to have a latchelement which is arranged in the area of the suction duct end sectionand is preferably configured as an elastically deformable wall sectionof the suction duct. Advantageously, the suction nozzle is pluggablyconnectable to a suction duct receiving socket of the hard surfacecleaning apparatus and a latch receptacle is arranged inside of thesuction duct receiving socket which cooperates with the latch element ofthe suction nozzle for effecting a latched connection.

The hard surface cleaning apparatus constructed in accordance with theinvention preferably forms a portable window cleaning apparatus.

The following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention,taken in conjunction with the drawing, serves to explain the inventionin greater detail.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a perspective representation of a portable hard surfacecleaning apparatus;

FIG. 2 shows a sectional view of the hard surface cleaning apparatus inFIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows a perspective representation of a suction nozzle of thehard surface cleaning apparatus;

FIG. 4 shows a perspective representation of a first and second housinghalf-shell of the suction nozzle in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 shows a perspective representation of the first housinghalf-shell viewed obliquely from above;

FIG. 6 shows a perspective representation of the first housinghalf-shell viewed obliquely from below;

FIG. 7 shows a longitudinal sectional view of the suction nozzle in FIG.3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

An advantageous embodiment of a portable hard surface cleaning apparatusin accordance with the invention, denoted in its entirety by referencenumeral 10, is shown schematically in the drawings. With the aid of theportable hard surface cleaning apparatus 10, liquid can be drawn off andsuctioned off a hard surface, in particular a window pane. Mirrorsurfaces or tiled walls can also be cleaned by use of the portable hardsurface cleaning apparatus 10. The hard surface cleaning apparatus 10can be moved along the hard surface by the user in the manner of amanual window squeegee. The hard surface cleaning apparatus 10 forms aportable window cleaning apparatus.

The hard surface cleaning apparatus 10 comprises a basic part 12 inwhich a suction unit 14 is arranged. The suction unit 14 comprises anelectric motor 16 which drives a suction turbine 18 for rotationalmovement. The suction turbine 18 can draw air via a turbine inletconduit 20 which in the present exemplary embodiment is shown as beingof straight-line configuration. The turbine inlet conduit 20 extendsinto a separating chamber 22. Arranged in the separating chamber 22, ata distance from the turbine inlet conduit 20, is a separating element inthe form of an impact wall which covers an inlet opening 26 of theturbine inlet conduit 20 and is generally convexly curved in thedirection facing away from the turbine inlet conduit 20.

On the side of the separating chamber 22 facing away from the turbineinlet conduit 20, the basic part 12 forms a suction duct receivingsocket 28 which receives a suction duct end section 30 of anadvantageous embodiment of a suction nozzle 32 in accordance with theinvention. The suction nozzle 32 is shown schematically in the drawingsand will be described in greater detail below.

The suction turbine 18 is separated from the separating chamber 22 byway of a first partition wall 34, wherein the turbine inlet conduit 20passes through the first partition wall 34. In the area of the firstpartition wall 34, the turbine inlet conduit 20 is surrounded by a sealring 36 with which it is ensured that liquid cannot inadvertently passfrom the separating chamber 22 along the outer side of the turbine inletconduit 20 to the suction turbine 18.

The basic part 12 has a second partition wall 38 at a distance from thefirst partition wall 34 and oriented in parallel relation thereto. Thesuction turbine 18 is arranged between the first partition wall 34 andthe second partition wall 38, and the electric motor 16 is arranged onthe side of the second partition wall 38 facing away from the suctionturbine 18, in a drive chamber 40 of the basic part 12. A motor shaft 42of the electric motor 16 passes through the second partition wall 38 andis connected to the suction turbine 18 in rotationally fixed relationthereto. The suction turbine 18 can be given rotation by way of themotor shaft 42.

In addition to the electric motor 16, the drive chamber 40 haspositioned therein a rechargeable battery 44 and control, switching andcharging electronics 46. The control, switching and charging electronics46 cooperates with an actuating element 48 which in the illustratedexemplary embodiment is configured as a press switch for switching onand off the electric motor 16. Furthermore, the control, switching andcharging electronics 46 controls the rotational speed of the electricmotor 16 and the charging process for the battery 44. The control,switching and charging electronics 46 and the rechargeable battery 44are arranged on a common circuit board 49.

The drive chamber 40 is arranged in a hand grip 50 of the basic part 12.The hand grip 50 can be grasped by the user with one hand.

The hand grip 50 extends to a bottom wall 52 of the basic part 12 whichpermits resting the portable hard surface cleaning apparatus 10 on asupporting surface.

In addition to the basic part 12 and the suction nozzle 32, the portablehard surface cleaning apparatus 10 has a dirty-liquid tank 54 which istoollessly, releasably held on the basic part 12 and has extendingthereinto a filling device 56. Via the filling device 56, liquid canpass from the separating chamber 22 into the dirty-liquid tank 54. Thefilling device 56 has a filler tube 58 and a vent tube 60 which areconnected to one another in one piece and extend into the dirty-liquidtank 54.

The dirty-liquid tank 54 has an upper tank section 62 which facestowards the separating chamber 22 and can be inserted in an upper recess64 of the basic part 12 via an upper opening 63, and a rear tank section66 which can be inserted in a lower recess 68 of the basic part 12 via alower opening 67. The upper recess 64 is arranged laterally next to thesuction turbine 18 and is in flow communication with the suction turbine18 so that suction air from the suction turbine 18 can be exhausted toatmosphere via the upper recess 64 and the upper opening 63.

Opening into the upper recess 64 is a fill funnel 70 which is connectedin one piece to the first partition wall 34. Via the fill funnel 70,liquid can pass from the separating chamber 22 into a trough-likedepression 72 of the filling device 56 which is adjoined by the fillertube 58. The vent tube 60 extends parallel to the filler tube 58,wherein it protrudes, at its upper end facing away from the dirty-liquidtank 54, above the filler tube 58 and extends into the fill funnel 70.

The lower recess 68 is arranged immediately above the bottom wall 52,wherein the bottom wall 52 has, in the area of the lower recess 68,resiliently deformable bottom wall sections and thereby exerts on thedirty-liquid tank 54 a resilient holding force in a direction towards acontact wall 74 arranged at a distance from the bottom wall 52, againstwhich contact wall 74 the rear tank section 66 is in contact at an upperside thereof. The rear tank section 66 can be latched to the lowerrecess 68 by way of latch elements that are configured complementarilythereto.

The dirty-liquid tank 54 together with the hand grip 50 delimit athrough-hole 75, for finger insertion therethrough, of the hard surfacecleaning apparatus 10 which permits the user's fingers to be insertedtherethrough when he or she holds the portable hard surface cleaningapparatus 10.

The suction nozzle 32 is shown separately in FIGS. 3 to 7. It has asuction nozzle housing 77 having a first housing half-shell 76 and asecond housing half-shell 78 which are releasably connected to oneanother. In the exemplary embodiment as illustrated, the two housinghalf-shells 76, 78 are connected together by screwing them together.

The two housing half-shells 76, 78 define between them a suction duct80. At its rear end region facing towards the separating chamber 22, thesuction duct 80 forms the suction duct end section 30, alreadymentioned, which can be inserted in the suction duct receiving socket28. The suction duct 80 extends between the two housing half-shells 76,78 from a suction opening 82 to the suction duct end section 30.

The first housing half-shell 76 forms a bottom wall 84 of the suctionduct 80 and first arcuately curved side walls 86, 88 of the suction duct80. In a corresponding manner, the second housing half-shell 78 forms atop wall 90 of the suction duct 80 and second arcuately curved sidewalls of the suction duct 80 which can be placed onto the first sidewalls 86, 88 in a flow-tight manner.

For drawing off liquid from a hard surface that is to be cleaned, thesuction nozzle 32 has, in the area of the suction opening 82 thereof, areplaceable squeegee lip 92 and a non-replaceable squeegee lip 94. Thenon-replaceable squeegee lip 94 is integrally formed on the firsthousing half-shell 76 and forms together with the first housinghalf-shell 76 an injection molded part having two components, namely ahard component forming the first housing half-shell 76 and an elastomercomponent forming the non-replaceable squeegee lip 94.

The suction duct 80 has a centrally arranged longitudinal axis 102, andthe replaceable squeegee lip 92 is configured symmetrically with respectto its center plane 96 oriented parallel to the longitudinal axis 102and has a holding section 98 which is formed by a bead 100 having agenerally circular shape in cross-section. The bead 100 extends in adirection transverse with respect to the longitudinal axis 102 of thesuction duct 80 along the entire length of the replaceable squeegee lip92 and forms the rear end portion thereof. The front end portion of thereplaceable squeegee lip 92 is formed by a first squeegeeing edge 104and a second squeegeeing edge 106 which extend along an end face 108,facing away from the bead 100, of the replaceable squeegee lip 92.

The first housing half-shell 76 has a plurality of holding elements forfixing in place of the replaceable squeegee lip 92, wherein multiplefirst holding elements are arranged in the area of the suction duct andeach of these forms a flow guide rib 114. The flow guide ribs 114 arearranged in a fan-like manner so that with increasing distance from thelongitudinal axis 102 of the suction duct 80, the flow guide ribs 114are at an increasing inclination to the longitudinal axis 102. All ofthe flow guide ribs 114 are arranged at the same level, relative to thelongitudinal axis 102. They protrude vertically upwards from the bottomwall 84 and have in each case a depression 118 at the upper edge 116thereof into which the bead 100 extends in a form-locking manner.Upstream of the depressions, the flow guide ribs 114 in each case have,at the upper edges thereof, a planar contact face 119 oriented at anincline with respect to the bottom wall 84, for contacting thereplaceable squeegee lip 92. The flow guide ribs 114 provide support tothe replaceable squeegee lip 92 in the area of the suction duct 80. Theflow guide ribs 114 are optimized in the shape in terms of fluid flow,wherein they are tapered at the front end portions thereof facingtowards the non-replaceable squeegee lip 94. In addition to theirfunction of providing support, the flow guide ribs 114 enable a suctionflow to be guided with very small losses of flow so that a mixture ofliquid and suction air can pass through between the flow guide ribs 114with only small losses of flow.

In addition to the flow guide rib 114, the first housing half-shell 76has two further holding elements for fixing the replaceable squeegee lip92. Said further holding elements are configured in the form of aholding channel 120 and a holding channel 122 which are located outsideof the suction duct and which in each case extend away from a first sidewall 86 and 88 respectively of the suction duct 80 to an external wall124, 126 of the first housing half-shell 76.

The second housing half-shell 78 has a holding element in the form of aholding channel 110 for fixing of the replaceable squeegee lip 92 inplace at the suction opening 82. The holding channel 110 receives anupper edge portion 112 of the bead 100. In a corresponding manner, thetwo holding channels 120, 122, which are arranged outside of the suctionduct 80, and the flow guide ribs 114, which are arranged within thesuction duct 80, receive in each case a lower edge portion 128 of thebead 100 so that the replaceable squeegee lip 92 is fixed in placebetween the two housing half-shells 76, 78.

For cleaning a hard surface, the portable hard surface cleaningapparatus 10 can be moved with the replaceable squeegee lip 92 along ahard surface that is to be cleaned. The replaceable squeegee lip 92 caninitially assume a first position of use in which the first squeegeeingedge 104 faces towards the non-replaceable squeegee lip 94, asillustrated for example in FIG. 7. In cleaning the hard surface, thefirst squeegeeing edge 104 in this first position of use slides alongthe hard surface being cleaned. The first squeegeeing edge 104 can besubjected to wear, in particular in cases where the hard surfacepresents roughness. When a maximum amount of wear is reached, thecleaning effect that is can be achieved by use of the first squeegeeingedge 104 can be adversely affected. It is then possible for the user topull the replaceable squeegee lip 92 sideways out of the suction nozzlehousing 77 via one of the external walls 124, 126, then turn it overthrough 180° relative to the center axis 130 thereof and then pull itback into the suction nozzle housing 77 via one of the external wall124, 126. The replaceable squeegee lip 92 then assumes its secondposition of use in which the second squeegeeing edge 106 faces thenon-replaceable squeegee lip 94 and can slide along the hard surfacebeing cleaned. In this way, the lifetime of the replaceable squeegee lip92 can be considerably increased.

As has already been mentioned, the suction duct end section 30 can beinserted in the suction duct receiving socket 28 of the basic part 12.This is shown in FIG. 2 in particular. In order to prevent inadvertentrelease of the suction nozzle 32 from the basic part 12, the suctionnozzle 32 can be latched to the basic part 12. To this end, the suctionduct receiving socket 28 has a latch recess 134 arranged therein and thefirst housing half-shell 76 forms, in the area of the suction duct endsection 30, a latch element in the form of a latch hook 136. The latchhook 136 has a spring tongue 138 which forms an elastically deformablewall section 139 of the suction duct 80 and is connected to the firsthousing half-shell 76 in one piece therewith. At its free end, thespring tongue 138 carries, on the exterior of the first housinghalf-shell 76, an outwardly projecting latch projection 140. This isshown in FIG. 6 in particular. The spring tongue 138 is surrounded,except for the end thereof facing away from the latch projection 140, atwhich end it is connected to the first housing half-shell 76 in onepiece therewith, by a U-shaped through-slot 142. It is thereby possible,when the suction duct end section 30 is inserted in the suction ductreceiving socket 28, for the spring tongue 138 to perform a resilientmovement until the latch projection 140 assumes a position located at alevel of the latch recess 134 and latches into the latch recess 134. Inorder to ensure that no suction air and no liquid can leak out of thesuction duct 80 via the through-slot 142, the spring tongue 138 is, onthe interior side of the suction duct 80, overmolded using the sameelastomer component that forms the non-replaceable squeegee lip 94. Theelastomer component forms a U-shaped living hinge in the area of thethrough-slot 142 that allows for the spring tongue 138 together with thelatch projection 140 to be moved relative to the hard component formingthe first housing half-shell 76, while yet ensuring that neither suctionair nor liquid can leak out of the suction duct 80 through thethrough-slot 142.

The elastomer component extends from the non-replaceable squeegee lip 94along the first side walls 86, 88 of the suction duct 80 to the latchhook 136. This is shown in FIG. 5 in particular.

Once the suction nozzle 32 is connected to the basic part 12 byinserting the suction duct end section 30 in the suction duct receivingsocket 28, the portable hard surface cleaning apparatus 10 can, in themanner of a manual window squeegee for cleaning a hard surface, inparticular a window pane or a glass door, be moved along said hardsurface, wherein liquid present on the hard surface can be fed to thesuction opening 82 by way of the replaceable squeegee lip 92 and thenon-replaceable squeegee lip 94 supporting same. The liquid, togetherwith air, can be aspirated into the suction opening 82 via the suctionduct 80 and fed into the separating chamber 22. To this end, the turbineinlet conduit 20 can have a negative pressure applied thereto by thesuction unit 14 via the turbine inlet conduit 20. The mixture of liquidand air passes through the suction duct 80 and, inside the separatingchamber 22, first strikes an impact plate 144 held to the suction ductend section 30, on which impact plate 144 a portion of the entrainedliquid separates out. The liquid/air mixture then impinges against theimpact wall 24 on which the remaining entrained liquid separates out,whereas the suctioned air flows around the impact plate 144 and theimpact wall 24 and reaches the suction turbine 18 via the turbine inletconduit 20. From the suction turbine 18, the suctioned air is dischargedto the exterior via an annular air outlet chamber 146 which surroundsthe upper tank section 62 within the upper recess 64 in acircumferential direction.

The impact plate 144 forms a first separating element for separatingliquid, and the impact wall 24 forms a second separating element forseparating liquid from the drawn liquid/air mixture. The liquidseparated in the separating chamber 22 can reach the dirty-liquid tank54 via the fill funnel 70 and the filler tube 58. The dirty-liquid tank54 can be emptied as required. To this end, the user can remove thedirty-liquid tank 54 together with the filling device 56 held theretofrom the basic part 12 by pulling the rear tank section 66 out of thelower recess 68 and then removing the upper tank section 62 from theupper recess 64. Subsequently, the user can release the filling device56 from the dirty-liquid tank 54 and empty the dirty-liquid tank 54. Theuser can then re-insert the filling device 56 in the dirty-liquid tank54 and insert same at the upper tank section 62 thereof in the upperrecess 64 and at the rear tank section 66 thereof in the lower recessand latch the dirty-liquid tank 54 to the basic part 12.

Should, after prolonged use of the portable hard surface cleaningapparatus 10, the first or second squeegeeing edge 104, 106 that slidesalong the hard surface to be cleaned become worn, it is possible for theuser, as has been described above in detail, to turn over thereplaceable squeegee lip 92 through 180° relative to the center axis 130thereof so that the user can now use the unused squeegeeing edge 104 or106.

The portable hard surface cleaning apparatus 10 constructed inaccordance with the invention is distinguished by long life and can bemoved along the hard surface by the user in the usual manner of a manualwindow squeegee. The portable hard surface cleaning apparatus 10 isdistinguished by having low cost of manufacture.

1. A suction nozzle for a portable hard surface cleaning apparatus fordrawing off and suctioning off liquid from a hard surface, in particularfrom a window pane, comprising a suction nozzle housing having a firstand a second housing half-shell which between them form a suction duct,wherein the suction duct extends from a suction opening at which areplaceable squeegee lip is held in place, to a suction duct end sectionto which a source of vacuum is connectable for creating a suction flowand wherein the two housing half-shells each have at least one holdingelement adjacent to the suction opening and a holding section of thereplaceable squeegee lip is arranged between the holding elements of thetwo housing half-shells, wherein the holding elements of the housinghalf-shells in each case form an engagement with the holding section ofthe replaceable squeegee lip.
 2. The suction nozzle in accordance withclaim 1, wherein the holding section of the replaceable squeegee lip ispositionable between the at least one holding element of the firsthousing half-shell and the at least one holding element of the secondhousing half-shell both in a first position of use of the replaceablesqueegee lip and in a second position of use of the squeegee lip turnedthrough 180° about the center axis thereof, wherein the center axis isoriented parallel to a longitudinal axis of the suction duct.
 3. Thesuction nozzle in accordance with claim 1, wherein the replaceablesqueegee lip has a symmetrical configuration with respect to the centerplane thereof, wherein the center plane is oriented parallel to thelongitudinal axis of the suction duct.
 4. The suction nozzle inaccordance with claim 1, wherein the holding section of the replaceablesqueegee lip is configured as an enlargement and the holding elementseach have a depression.
 5. The suction nozzle in accordance with claim4, wherein the enlargement is configured in the form of a straight-linebead and the holding elements each have a depression into which the beadextends.
 6. The suction nozzle in accordance with claim 1, wherein atleast one holding element of the first housing half-shell is arranged inthe area of the suction duct and forms a flow guide element.
 7. Thesuction nozzle in accordance with claim 6, wherein the at least oneholding element arranged in the area of the suction duct forms a flowguide rib.
 8. The suction nozzle in accordance with claim 7, wherein aplurality of flow guide ribs in spaced-apart relation to one another arearranged in the area of the suction duct.
 9. The suction nozzle inaccordance with claim 8, wherein the flow guide ribs are arranged in afan-like manner.
 10. The suction nozzle in accordance with claim 8,wherein the flow guide ribs are arranged at the same height relative tothe longitudinal axis of the suction duct.
 11. The suction nozzle inaccordance with claim 8, wherein the flow guide ribs taper against thedirection of flow of the suction flow.
 12. The suction nozzle inaccordance with claim 8, wherein the flow guide ribs in each case have,at their upper edge facing away from the first housing half-shell, adepression into which the holding section of the replaceable squeegeelip extends.
 13. The suction nozzle in accordance with claim 12, whereinthe depressions at the upper edges of the flow guide ribs are arrangedin a rear end region of the flow guide ribs relative to the direction offlow of the suction flow and wherein, in a section upstream of thedepressions, the upper edges form a planar contact face for thereplaceable squeegee lip.
 14. The suction nozzle in accordance withclaim 8, wherein the flow guide ribs are of wedge-shaped configurationin cross-section.
 15. The suction nozzle in accordance with claim 8,wherein the replaceable squeegee lip makes contact with the flow guideribs over at least one half of its extension, relative to the directionof flow of the suction flow.
 16. The suction nozzle in accordance withclaim 6, wherein the first housing half-shell has at least one furtherholding element that is arranged outside of the suction duct.
 17. Thesuction nozzle in accordance with claim 16, wherein the first housinghalf-shell has at least two further holding elements which are arrangedoutside of the suction duct in symmetrical relation with each other,relative to the longitudinal axis of the suction duct.
 18. The suctionnozzle in accordance with claim 1, wherein the suction nozzle has anon-replaceable squeegee lip which is integrally formed on the firsthousing half-shell.
 19. The suction nozzle in accordance with claim 18,wherein the non-replaceable squeegee lip together with the first housinghalf-shell forms an injection-molded part comprising a hard componentand an elastomer component.
 20. The suction nozzle in accordance withclaim 19, wherein at least one holding element of the first housinghalf-shell is arranged in the area of the suction duct and forms a flowguide element and wherein the elastomer component at least partiallysurrounds, in a circumferential direction, the at least one holdingelement arranged in the area of the suction duct.
 21. The suction nozzlein accordance with claim 1, wherein one of the two housing half-shellshas a latch element in the area of the suction duct end section, whichlatch element forms an elastically deformable wall section of thesuction duct and is overmolded by an elastomer component.
 22. Thesuction nozzle in accordance with claim 21, wherein the latch elementforms a latch hook which has a spring tongue forming an elasticallydeformable wall section of the suction duct and a latch projectionprojecting outwards from the spring tongue, wherein the spring tongue isovermolded by the elastomer component.
 23. A portable hard surfacecleaning apparatus for drawing off and suctioning off liquid from a hardsurface, in particular from a window pane, the portable hard surfacecleaning apparatus having a suction unit, a dirty-liquid tank and aseparating device for separating liquid from a suctioned liquid/airmixture, and having a suction nozzle in accordance with claim
 1. 24. Theportable hard surface cleaning apparatus in accordance with claim 23,wherein the portable hard surface cleaning apparatus has a suction ductreceiving socket which is pluggably connectable to the suction duct endsection, and has a latch receptacle for receiving a latch projection ofthe suction nozzle.